Bennett Rebecca J, Meyer Carly J, Eikelboom Robert H, Atlas Julian D, Atlas Marcus D
Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia.
Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia.
Am J Audiol. 2018 Dec 6;27(4):604-613. doi: 10.1044/2018_AJA-18-0053.
Hearing aid management describes the skills and knowledge required for the handling, use, care, and maintenance of the hearing aid. The importance of hearing aid management skills and knowledge is evidenced by their association with hearing aid outcomes. However, the nature of this association and the influence of participant factors on this association are unknown. Accordingly, the aims of the current study were to (a) investigate participant factors that influence hearing aid management skills and knowledge and (b) investigate the impact of hearing aid management skills and knowledge on hearing aid outcomes.
Factors associated with hearing aid management skills and knowledge were investigated through an e-mail- and paper-based self-report survey, including the Hearing Aid Skills and Knowledge Inventory (Bennett, Meyer, Eikelboom, & Atlas, 2018b) and the International Outcomes Inventory for Hearing Aids (Cox & Alexander, 2002). The study sample included 518 adult hearing aid owners, ranging in age from 18 to 97 years (M = 71 years, SD = 14 years), 61% male and 39% female, recruited from seven hearing clinics across Australia.
Participant factors found to be associated with hearing aid skills and knowledge included participants' age, gender, style of hearing aid, age of current hearing aid, and total years of hearing aid ownership. Higher levels of hearing aid management skills and knowledge were found to be associated with better hearing aid outcomes, specifically higher self-reported satisfaction with hearing aids, perceived benefit from hearing aids, and overall outcome of the hearing aid fitting as evaluated by the International Outcomes Inventory for Hearing Aids.
Hearing aid management difficulties were greatest for older people, women, and owners of behind-the-ear style of hearing aids, suggesting that clinicians need to be cognizant of the additional needs for these three groups. The positive association between hearing aid outcomes and hearing aid skills and knowledge emphasizes the importance of education and training on hearing aid management for successful aural rehabilitation.
助听器管理描述了处理、使用、护理和维护助听器所需的技能和知识。助听器管理技能和知识的重要性体现在它们与助听器使用效果的关联上。然而，这种关联的本质以及参与者因素对该关联的影响尚不清楚。因此，本研究的目的是：（a）调查影响助听器管理技能和知识的参与者因素；（b）调查助听器管理技能和知识对助听器使用效果的影响。
通过电子邮件和纸质自我报告调查，对与助听器管理技能和知识相关的因素进行了研究，调查内容包括《助听器技能和知识量表》（贝内特、迈耶、艾克尔布姆和阿特拉斯，2018年b版）以及《国际助听器效果量表》（考克斯和亚历山大，2002年）。研究样本包括518名成年助听器佩戴者，年龄在18岁至97岁之间（平均年龄 = 71岁，标准差 = 14岁），男性占61%，女性占39%，他们来自澳大利亚各地的七家听力诊所。
发现与助听器技能和知识相关的参与者因素包括参与者的年龄、性别、助听器款式、当前助听器使用时长以及佩戴助听器的总时长。较高水平的助听器管理技能和知识与更好的助听器使用效果相关，具体表现为自我报告的对助听器的满意度更高、从助听器中感知到的益处更大，以及根据《国际助听器效果量表》评估的助听器验配总体效果更好。
老年人、女性以及耳背式助听器佩戴者在助听器管理方面困难最大，这表明临床医生需要认识到这三组人群的额外需求。助听器使用效果与助听器技能和知识之间的正相关强调了针对成功的听觉康复进行助听器管理教育和培训的重要性。
